1. Experience iconic art

2. Explore buildings you never knew were there

Where: OPEN HOUSE MELBOURNE,VIC, AND SYDNEY OPEN, NSW
Check out Open House Melbourne in July and Sydney Open in November to get behind the scenes of some of the cities’ most inspiring and intriguing buildings, many of which are often closed to the public.
Shameless snoops have previously had the chance to visit The Great Synagogue in Sydney and Government House in Melbourne.

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3. Discover a new artist to watch

At just 31 years old, 2016 Archibald Prize finalist Clara Adolphs is one of the most exciting artists of the decade. Painting in thick impasto with a palette knife, Adolphs depicts scenes from old photographs, creating evocative and mesmeric paintings with complex narratives.

Her next show will be at the MiCK Fine Art pop-up in Sydney during November.

4. It’s time to get Contemporary

Where: SYDNEY, NSW

Green Square in Sydney is on track to become a shiny new cultural and community hub, and the arts are following suit.

John Bell is one of Australia’s most pre-eminent actors; don’t miss the chance to see him in the lead role of an astonishing new play. The Father is deeply moving and transports audiences into the puzzling labyrinth of an old man’s once familiar world. It’s unlike anything I’ve seen in a long time.

Vivid White is the latest creation from the wild, satirical mind of Eddie Perfect. It’s a hilarious and ruthless swipe at middle-class aspirations and the living nightmare that is the Australian housing market.

Or see Plain Speak until 13 August, a new annual exhibition dedicated to the stories of aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year’s exhibition includes both contemporary and traditional mediums.

10. Walk in the footsteps of artists

Where: HILL END, NSW

Visit one of Australia’s most celebrated artists’ towns, Hill End, in the Bathurst region of New South Wales.

The town, surrounded by spectacular landscapes, has been a home and source of inspiration to some of Australia’s most highly regarded artists, including Margaret Olley, Jeffrey Smart, John Olsen and Russell Drysdale.

Hill End was a key town in the Australian gold rush of the 1870s, and history abounds in its buildings and museums.

Visit from 21–23 April for The End festival of arts, culture and heritage.